Inserting machine



Mar. 27, 1923. 1,449,697

E. R. RICHARDS INSERTING MACHINE Filed Mar.l'7, 192;

5 sheets-sheet 1 Mar. 27, 1923.

E. R, RICHARDS INSERTING- MACHINE 3 sheets-sheet 2 fizz/612W.- 2 75.52 12 JZC/ZQZZE,

Filed Mar. 17 1921 Patented Mar. 27, 1923.

UNHTE SIATES;

nnns'r a, RICHARDS, of ammo, ILLINOIS;

INSEBY IING MACHINE.

Application filed M r a 17, 19 2 Seria1'N0 .45 3,p33.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNs'r R. RioHARns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in thecounty of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Inserting'Machines, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The invention relates to the art of as-. sembling signatures and has particular reference to a, machine for automatically inserting single. sheets in signatures.

An object of my invention is to provide a machine for inserting single sheets in signatures.

Another object of the invention isto pro vide a machine for automatically inserting single sheets in signatures in inset relation A further object of the invention is to provide a machine for inserting single sheets in'signatures in an efficient, expeditious and economical manner and which will be e11 tirely automatic in operation.

With this end. in view the invention consists of a machine having a hopper for holding a supply of signatures and a hopper ora plurality. of hoppers for holding supplies of single sheets, suitable mechanism being provided to withdraw a single article from every one of the several hoppers in timed relation and delivering the same at a common point or zone wherein the singlefsheets may be inserted in a signature.

I delivered onto one of the flatsides of the The form of the machine which I have chosen to illustrate my invention includes an intermittently rotating drum or carrier having preferably a plurality of flat sides and delivery mechanism cooperating with the several hoppers so that a signature may be drum and when the drum has been turned in a certain manner a sheet orsheets may be inserted in, the signature on the drum.

The various novel features of my invention will be apparent from the following description and drawings and will-be par ticularly pointed out in the appended Claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side-elevation of a machine disclosing the preferred form-of the invention.

Fig; 2 is an enlarged" side view with parts broken away showing certain" details of construction.

3 is an enlarged end'view of a portion ofthe machine showing the drumor reel in side elevation and of adjustment and. the like;

, Eig. 4 is anenlarged fragmentary view of the" preferred means for opening a signature. The machine illustrated includes afba'se '5 withupright framemembers'G and aplufral-j. I

y .Of hoppers A, B t and C- suitably upp rtfi i e'frame. "f w Referringto Fig. 2 of thedrawingscer i.

tain, details of construction will be clear;

The hoppers which Ihave illustrated are I similarin every respect and are arranged in such: ama nner ;tha t anarticle withdrawn from one maybe moved in 'timed relation withan article withdrawn from another and all brought together for the 1 purposes intended-f Every-hopper includes anjinclined bottom. 7, side. guides 8 and a f om guide 9.

forward end of=-tl'1e inclined bottom 7 j is cutaway or stops short of they front'guide 9 so as to permit withdrawal of the bottommost article inthe hopper. The bottom 7 and the guides 8 and 9 are suitably supported on theframe members 10, 11 and 12, which are mountedon theframe members of the machine in such a manneras to be readily removed, adjusted or replaced whenever the occasioh demands. The bottoms" 7 andthe guides Band 9 are mounted for ready-re moval hon the frame members 10, 11 and-12 by means of looped cars 13 hooking over laterally extending projections 14: in the several, frame members the reason forsuch construction being that it may be necessary at times to vary the guides of the hoppers accordingto the sizes of the material being run through the machine and for "other purposes Mounted adjacent the-lower ends of the inclined bottoms '7 ot'the several hoppers are transversely extending shafts 15 which carry withdrawing devices-which inthe form shown are pneumatic devices comprising cylinders :16; with *a plurality of radial ap'er turesll' extending from a central open portion to thesurface, suitable means beingpro- .vi'ded to: connect the members 16 with a suc- "tion device for the purpose of, withdrawing the owermost'article in the several hoppers, as will be more fully explained.

Suitable mechanism is provided for 'ac-' complishing the withdrawing devices in timed'relation with various other features of the "machine.

As I have. arranged the present machine v I the hoppers B and Care adapted to con tain piles of "single sheets and aredisposed to discharge toward each other, although. such. disposition is not essential, but is so arranged for the purpose of decreasing the size of the machine. The hopper A which contains the signatures is arranged below and. as shown in the drawings, to-the left of the hoppers B and C.

or conveying any article withdrawn from any of the hoppers to a common point or zone I have preferred to employ a series of endless tapes or aprons operated in a suitable manner for carrying out the purpose intended. Referring to Fig. 2 of the drawings it will be noted that the'sheets from the hopper B are withdrawn by means of a suction device 16 and directed downwardly between the rollersl6 and 20 and on to the curved guides 21 which contact the leading edge of the sheet at the instantthe suction is cut off through the roller 16 and delivers the leading edge onto tapes l8 moving in the direction indicated by the arrow. The roller 16 is caused to rotate in clockwise direction until the following edges of the sheet is clear thereof, thereupon, by suit, able mechanism the roller is turned in counter clockwise direction to the position shown in Fig. 2, ready as soon as the suction is created therein to withdraw the next, which is now the lowermost article, inthe hopper. Overlying the tapes 18 are bars 18 adapted to prevent the sheet from being displaced from the tapes 18 and which cause the sheet to follow the path of the tapes. After pass ing the roller 19 the tape has a downward path passing over the roller 19" then upwardly over the intermediate roller 19 baclr to the roller 19, immediately adjacent the suction roller 16. A sheet after passing th lowermost roller'19" is freed from the tapes and passes downwardly, as will be hereinafter explained.

A sheet may be withdrawn from the l1opper C in exactly the same manner as that described with reference to hopper B. If two sheets are to be withdrawn at one time from each of the hoppers for delivery to'the common zone the delivery mechanism cooperating itheach hopper will be operated timed relation to carry out this purpose.

Signatures are piled in the hopper A with the folded edges to the front. I prefer to fold the signatures with an edge projecting at the place of insertion. In connection with the hopper A withdrawing devices 16 similar to those described with reference to hopper B are provided for withdrawing the lowermost signature in the hopper? The leading or folded edge of the signature is drawn downwardly between the rollers 16 and 20 and onto a curved guide 21 which frees the leading edge of the signature when the same has been freed from engagement by the suction roller 16 and directs the same onto tapes 67 moving in the direction indicated by the arrow and supported on rollers 68, 68 and 68". A top guide 69 is provided, for keeping the signature on. the tapes 6?. Adjacent roller 68 is another roller 70 which serves. to bend downwardly the tapes 6? in the manner shown. The top guide 69 has its end bent to direct a signature on the tape 67 between the roller 68" and 70. The signature is then led by means of the tapes 67 onto one of the flat sides of th carrier E, which as shown, is preferably in the form of a pentagon in section and which is supported by means of a transversely extending shaft 2% in the frame of the machine and which is caused to rotate in clockwise direction intermittently by mechanism hereinafter described. The length of the pentagon E is such as to take the largest signature of which the machine is capable of receiving. This feature is true of. course of all of the various elements of the machine.

The reference character 26 represents one of 'the'sides of the pentagon and is referred to as the flat side which'is in horizontal position to receive a signature from the tapes 6?. Near the rearward edges of the several sides of the pentagon are a plurality of spring fingers or grippers 25 against which the leading or folded edge of the signature is delivered by the tapes. The parts are so arranged that as soon as'a. signature is delivered against the spring fingers 25 of the horizontal side of the pentagon the pentagon is given rotative movement in clockwise di rection to the extent of one step which carries the signature from a horizontal position to an inclined position F, the clips or grippers 25 serving to pull the signature from the tapes 67.

It will be noted by reference to Fig. 2 that the tapes 18 and 18, moving as indicated by the arrows, come together at the lower rolls 19 and 19*. Beside these tapes in this position are guide rods formed by members 28 and 28 so as to receive and direct downwardly the sheets carried by the tapes. For opening a signature the same is moved by the pentagon from the position 26 to F l have mounted a finger ii in such position as to coi'itact the signature and to bend back or retard the lower or projecting edge of the signature. permitting the shorter or up per edge to spring awav from the lower half of the signature. opening the same a suliicient amount to receive a single sheet. In

Figure the withdrawal member or finger H is shown as being pivotally mounted on a stub shaft 80. which is suitably secured to the framework. A bracket 81 supported on the fran'iework in any suitable manner is provided with spaced jaws 82 and 83 and has a bolt or similar member 84; passing therethrough. A. spring 85 surrounds the bolt bearing against jaw 82 at one end and against the end 86 of the finger-H, -the :pur;

pose of this construction being .to yieldabllzy maintain-the fingerll against the earner of the finger H and the carrier E, indicatedat'87. In operation as the carrier is rotated in its step by. stepn'iovement the foot ojjthe finger H will be frictionally held against the carrier by the bracket and the spring. 85 cooperating in themanner hereinbefore de scribed. The, signature being. now in the position F of Fig. 2. A suitably supported guide, finger 27 is provided for preventing displacement of the signature from the in clined position on the pentagon and also for limiting the opening movement of the signa ture. After a sheet or plurality of single sheets have been inserted in the open-signa ture in the inclined position, as show-ngthe mechanism is operated to advance the pentagon one'step. v

The delivery mechanism associated with the hopper A has by this time delivered a second signature onto the horizontal side ofthe pentagon andthe delivery mechanism associated with hoppers B and C'have withdrawna sheet or plurality of sheets, as the case may be,-and are conveying the same to the common zone or point for delivery in insert relation with the signature then on the horizontal side 26 of the pentagon; The pentagon be ng moved the signature in the inclined position F isthen moved to a'lower inclinedpositi'on G whereupon the same fallsoff the pentagon and on to. a conveyor D for further operations. As an aid' in withdrawing the signature in the position G of the pentagon a shoe 29 carried by a link 30 supported at the end of the arm 31 suitably mounted on shaft 2% may be provided and arrangedto engage the following edges of the signature moving from the position F in Fig. 1. This engagement serves ,to'pull the signature carrying its inserted sheets from engagement with the fingers 25 and dropping the same onto the conveyor D.

It. will be noted that my machine will 0' withdraw a signature from a hopper, open the same, and automatically insert therein a single sheetor plurality of single sheets. The parts function in timed relation that no manual operation is required other than that for l'reeping the hoppers A, B and C filled. the first with signatures and others with piles of single sheets.

Fig. 1 shows somewhat cliagrahnnatiC'ally "the various connections for effecting timed movement of the several elements employed in my invention. A transversely extending "shaft- 32 is adapted to receive power from any suitable source (not shown) and. caused to rotate clockwise direction. l ne-shaft '32 carries a pinion 33 which meshes with sheet insertdtherein', must be submitted to 76is'o' disposed-with reierenceto the large pinion as to be :engagedlby' the rollers 66 thereon at" certain pointsin the; travel thereof: j V

As seen",

lbjwerirol'ler will eventually engage the slot; 76" shown in the" position 76 and by means" of sliding con-tact rotate the pentagon one-step clo'cli wise direction and willconp liwhen' the' pinion 34- moves in' counter} clockwise direction the tinue'to' rotate the same until the-roller arrivesf at the position 76 in Fig. '1, whereupon engagement with slot 76- ceases and the plate and its shaft and drum cometo rest. For preventing the pentagon from turningduririg the"timethe-rollers -(iti are out of engagementwith the slots 76 1 provide a member 3ft onj shaft 3'5h'aving convexly curved ends 34$ which contact concavit'ies 7 6*" in the end plate of the pentagon. It will be noted thafihe-penta on-is given step by step moveinent bywhat may be termed "3; Geneva motion. However;-any other mechanism may movement of a; pneumatic suction cylinder. 16

is-acc'oni'p'lished' by means of cranksand arms 71 and 72 cooperating with shafts 73 and 74. as clearly shownin the drawings.

It will be noted that an apparatus of'm 'y invention makes possible the-inserting of a single sheet or a plurality of single sheets in be arranged-to impart-step by step" motion its a signature, somethin which has never been accomplished by any of the machines now onthe market for inserting signatures. I

am aware that many machines-have been de vised for inserting one signature within another and assembling a plurality of signa- "tunes forgthe purpose of binding. My machine difierjs from these'machines in" that it is adaptable 'for inserting single sheets in a signature or a plurality of singlesheets in a signature and for no other purpose. In fact a signature afterhaving had single other operations for piling or inserting any other signatures and for the purpose of binding.

My invention is found particularly desirable for inserting a single sheet or a plurality of single sheets in a signature comprising two or more sections which have one folded edge, that is a signature comprising several sections which are open on three edges and which are fed with the only closed or folded edge foremost. Suchvsignatures are employed to a large extent in catalogue manufacture.

My invention is'found particularly useful in making of catalogues where it is desirable to insert colored sheets or other kinds of data which could not have been printed in the same machine with the signature.

l/Vhile I have described more or less precisely the details of construction of my invention, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto, as I contemplate changes in formand the proportion of parts and the substitution of equivalents as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a mechanism of the class described, in combination, means for gripping a folded edge of a signature and moving the same along a predetermined path, means for en gaging a free edge of said signature for opening the same, and means effective while said signature is open and still gripped for inserting a single sheet therein.

2. In a mechanism of the class described, in combination, a supply of signatures, means for withdrawing a signature from said supply, means for moving said signature, means for gripping a folded edge of said signature and moving the same along a predetermined path, means for engaging a free edge of said signature for opening the same, and means for delivering an inset into said opened signature.

3. In a mechanism of the class described, in combination, a plurality of hoppers, a supply of signatures in one hopper, a supply of inserts in another hopper, means for withdrawing a signature from said first hopper and moving it with a folded edge foremost along a curvilinear path, a fingerarranged to open said signature by frictionally contactingand retarding a portion of said signature as it is moved, means for withdrawing an insert from another hopper and delivering it into said open signature, and other means adapted to release said signature with itsinsert fromits path of movement.

4:. In a mechanism of the class'described in combination, means for moving a signa- 'ture, means including a finger effective during the movement of said signature for opening the same by engaging and bending back an edge of the signature for receiving an insert, and other means effective after said signature has received an insert for releasing it from movement.

5. In a mechanism of the class described, in combination, a plurality of hoppers, a rotating fiat sided carrier, means for imparting step by step movement to said carrier, means for delivering a signature from one hopper to saidcarrier, means for rotating said carrier one step, means effective during the said movement of said carrier for engaging and bending back an edge of the signature thereon, means for conveying the contents of another hopper into said open signature on said carrier in inset relation, and means for actuating the aforesaid means in timed relation.

6. In a mechanism of the class described, in combination, a plurality of hoppers, a rotating carrier, means for imparting step by step movement to said carrier, means for delivering a signature from one hopper to said carrier, means for rotating said carrier one step, means effective in the movement of said carrier for engaging and bending back an edge of the signature thereon, and means for conveying the contents of another hopper into said opened signature on said carrier in inset relation. s

7. In anapparatus of the class described, having a signature hopper and a sheet hopper, including in combination the following elements all operated in tlmed relation, a carrier, means for withdrawing a signature from said hopper, means for delivering said signature onto said carrier, means for rotating said carrier, means for opening the signature on said carrier, and means for delivering a single sheet into said opened signature, 7

8. In a machine of the classdescribed,

incombination, means for moving a signature fiatwise and with a folded edge foremost, means operative during the movement of the signature for engaging and retarding a free edge of the lower part of the signature, and means for inserting a single sheet in said signature while the lower edge thereof is in retarded position.

9. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a plurality of signatures folded so as to have certain edges project ing, means for feeding a signature with a folded edge foremost. means for feeding a single sheet for insertion in said signature, and means for opening said signature to receive said sheet including a finger adapted to engage and bend back the thereof.

'10. In a machine of the class described, in combination, means for feeding a signature with a folded edge foremost, means projecting edge for feeding a single sheet for insertion in said signature, means including a horizontally disposed five sided carrier for moving said signature into position to receive said sheet, means thereon for receiving said signature, means for rotating the carrier, and means adapted to contact a projecting edge of said signature for opening the same during the rotation of said carrler.

11. An improvement in the art of inserting sheets and the like in signatures, which consists in folding a signature with an edge projecting at the place of insertion, moving said signature, and during the movement thereofretarding said projecting edge for opening the signature, and then inserting a sheet or the like therein.

12.-In an inserting machine, in combination, means for moving a signature, and means effective during the movement of said signature for engaging and bending back an edge of the same for receiving an insert.

13. In a mechanism of the class described, in combination, a plurality of hoppers, a rotating horizontally disposed carrier, means for delivering a signature flatwise to said carrier while the same is at rest, means for imparting intermittent rotative movement to said carrier, means effective during the movement of said carrier to open said signature, said means including a member for bending back an edge of said signature, and means for conveying the contents of another hopper to said opened signature on said carrier for assembly in inset relation.

14. In a mechanism of the class described, in combination, a plurality of hoppers, a horizontally disposed rotatable carrier, means for imparting step by step movement to said carrier, means for delivering fiatwise a signature from a hopper to said carrier, means on said carrier for gripping said signature, means for rotating said carrier one step, means efiective in the movement of said carrier for engaging and bending back an edge of the signature thereon, and means for conveying the contents of another hopper into said opened signature on said carrier while said si ature is engaged by said grippers.

15. fii an apparatus of the class described, including in combination the following elements all operated in timed relation, a horizontally disposed rotating carrier, means for Withdrawing a signature from a hopper, means for delivering said signature fiatwise on to said carrier, means on said carrier for gripping said signature, means for moving said carrier, means for opening the sig- -ing the same, and meansfor delivering nature While on said carrier, and means for delivering a single sheet into said opened signature.

16. In a mechanismof the class described,

in combination, means for Withdrawing anddelivering a signature, means for gripping said signature by a folded edge and moving said signature in a curvilinear path, means efl'ective during the movement of said signature for bending back an edge of the signature for opening the same and means for delivering insets into said opened signature.

17. In a machine of the class described,- in combination, means for Withdrawing and delivering a signature, means for gripping said signature by a folded edge and moving the same along a curvilinear path, a stop in the path of movement of said signature adapted to contact an edge thereof for open- 1nsets into said opened signature.

18. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a supply of signatures, means for withdrawing a signature from said supply, means for feeding said signature, means for gripping a folded edge ,of said signature and moving the same along a predetermined path, means for engaging a free edge of said signature for opening the same, means for delivering an inset into said opened signature, and means for disengaging said signa-- ture from said gripper after receiving said inset.

19. In a machine of the class described, in combination, means for delivering a signature fiatwise with a folded edge foremost, means for gripping said folded edge for advancing said signature, means for opening said signature while the sameis being advanced by said grippers, and means for delivering a single sheet into said opened signature, said opening means cooperating to keep said signature open for the reception of said sheet. i

20. In a machine of the class described, in combination, means for delivering a signa-' ture flatwise with a folded edge foremost,

means for gripping said folded edge for ad-' vancing said slgnature, means for-opening said signature While the same is advanced by said grippers, means for delivering a single sheet into said opened signature, said opening means cooperating to keep said signature open for the reception of said sheet, and automatic means for actuating said above mentioned means.

Si ned at Chicago, Illinois, this 5th day of arch, 1921.-

' ERNST R. RICHARDS. 

